Massage apparatus



R. E. DE WALT MASSAGE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 2, 1934 Original Filed Aug. 6, 1930 18.3.30 fn/aZZ'.

Jan. 2, R 5 DE T MASSAGE APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 6, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wagnay mm Patented Jan. 2, 1934 UNETE STATES PATENT Application August 6, 19-30, Serial No. 473,405 Renewed May 23, 1933 2 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for stimulating the circulation and promoting a healthy condition of the skin and muscles. The object of the invention is to provide a very simple and compact device whereby the slain and flesh of the patient will be subjected to suction and also receive the benefit of an electric current simultaneously with the application of the suction. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying 19 drawings and will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a device embodying the invention, the face plate of the main casing being removed,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation looking toward the front and having the rear portion of the main casing omitted, and

Fig. i is a detail section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

In carrying out the present invention, there is provided a main casing consisting of a front section 1 and a back or rear section 2 which may be secured to the front section by cap screws, as indicated at 3, and by bolts inserted through mating flanges on said back section and a cupcarrying lower member 4,, as indicated at 5, the lower member 4 being also secured to the lower end of the front section, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Formed with the front and rear sections are webs 6 and 7 which are alined so as to reinforce the casing and are provided with mating notches to form a guide for a pitman 8. A flexible diaphragm 9 is provided and has its marginal portion disposed between and clamped by the mating flanges of the cup-carrying section 4 and the upper front and rear sections 1 and 2 whereby it will be held across the lower end of the .40 casing and within a chamber defined by the several walls of the casing and the webs 6 and 'l, as will be understood upon reference to Figs. 2 and 3, the central portion of the diaphragm being firmly attached to the lower end of the pitrnan 8.

A nozzle or suction cup 10 of glass or other insulating material is fitted to the lower end of the cup-carrying section 4 and is held thereto by a gland 11, as shown, electric terminals or conductors 12 being carried by the cup at diametri- 5O cally opposite points of the same. These terminals may be metal strips embedded in or fitted snugly to the body of the cup and having their lower ends extending across the edge of the cup, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The upper end of the pitman 8 is pivotally engaged upon a wrist pin 13 which is carried by a worm gear 14 rotatably mounted upon a belt or axle 15 secured in the front wall of the casing and projecting into the interior of the same, as shown in Fig. 2, and this worm gear 14 meshes with and is driven by a Worm 16 formed on the end of the shaft of an electric motor, indicated at 17, and mounted upon a shelf 18 which is rigidly secured to and projects from one side of the main casing. A handle member 19 is secured to the top of the main casing and connected to the casing of the motor, as shown in Fig. 1, and current to drive the motor may be derived from the house lighting current or any other convenient source, the numeral 25) in Fig. 1 indicating the main lines supplying the current to the several electric elements and the numeral 21 indicating branch lines carrying the current to the motor for driving the same. A switch 22 of any convenient form may, of course, be provided in the branch lines so as to start or stop the motor as desired.

The worm gear 14 has secured thereto a body 23 of fiber or other insulation and in said insulated body at one point is a short metal conducting plate 24. Disposed within the front wall of the casing are contact brushes 25 which are seated within insulated bushings 26 secured in the casing wall and held constantly to the insulated body 23 or the contact strip 24 by expansion springs 26 housed within the respective bushings. In the front end of one of the bushings 26 is secured a cap screw 27 having a metal clip or hangor 28 carried thereby and this clip or hanger 28 is secured both electrically and mechanically to the upper end of a resistance rod 29 of carbon which is disposed within the casing and suspended by said clip or hanger, the spring 26, which is in constant contact with the brush 25 and the end of the screw 27, serving as a conductor to electrically connect the brush and the resistance rod. The lower end of the rod 29 is fitted in a base piece 30 of insulation which is secured within the casing, as will be understood. The other brush 25 has a cap screw 31 in electrical 99 engagement therewith through an expansion spring similar to the spring 26, and to said screw 31 is secured one end of a conductor 32 which is directly connected with one of the main lines 20. Each of the terminals 12 has its lower end 9. engaged in a small notch across the edge of the cup whereby it will be held against displacement and may rest upon the part to be treated. The conductors fit close to the inner surface of the cup, as shown in Figure 3, and their upper ends 1.

pass through and are held by a strip 33 of in sulation which rests in notches in the upper edge of the cup and bridges the cup, being held thereto by a shoulder 34 on the member 4. Conductors 35 and 36 are carried through notches in the upper edge of the member 4 and pass down in said member with their lower ends attached to the upper ends of the terminal conductors 12. The conductor 35 is connected with a line 38 which passes through the body of insulation 30 and is then carried out to join the main line 20 while the conductor 36 is connected by a line 39 with a sliding contact 40 engaged upon the resistance rod 29 and equipped with a button or handle 41 projecting through a slot 42 formed u in the face plate 43 of the main casing, said face plate being of insulating material, as will be understood upon reference to Fig. 2.

Just above its lower extremity, an annular groove 44 is formed externally upon the member 4 and openings 45 establish communication between the groove and the interior of the mem her. A friction band 46 seats in the groove and may be shifted to cover one or more of the openings 45 and control the admission of air and thus reduce the pull or suction and adjust the lift or pull according to requirements.

In operation, the cup 10 is applied to the part of the body which is to be treated and the circuit through the motor is closed so that the gear 14 will be driven and the pitman 8 reciprocated, the movement of the pitman being transmitted directly to the diaphragm 9. On the down-stroke of the pitman, the diaphragm will be shifted to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and consequently the greater portion of the air between the diaphragm and the body will be expelled and upon the ensuing up-stroke of the pitman and the diaphragm, a partial vacuum will be produced below the diaphragm which will serve to raise the portion of the flesh within the area of the mouth of the cup 10, as will be understood. The rotation of the gear 14 will, of course, be

transmitted directly to the disk 23 and the conposite terminal 12 and return through the conductor 35 and 38 to the main line. It will thus be seen at once that, when the flesh has been raised through the action of the vacuum, a stimulating current will be simultaneously passed therethrough so that the desired increased circulation will be effected. The strength of the current applied to the treated part may be regulated nicely by sliding the contact 40 along the resistance rod 29 as, obviously. when the contact 40 is moved toward the top or upper end of said rod, the effective conducting length of the rod is shortened and a greater volume of current will be permitted to pass, whereas when the contact 40 is moved in the opposite direction, the current will have to travel a greater length of the rod and must overcome a greater resistance so that a less quantity of the current will pass to and through the terminals 12.

My device is exceedingly simple in the construction and arrangement of its parts so that it may be very easily handled and is not apt to get out of order. It will operate upon atrophied muscles without causing pain or otherwise annoying the patient and will stimulate the blood circulation by the alternate suction pull and release as well as by the heating and activating eiTect of the electric current.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a massage device, the combination of a casing, a gear therein, means for rotating the gear, an applicator cup, a timing block carried by said gear, a conducting strip set in said timing block, brushes mounted in the casing and bearing against the timing block to be spanned at intervals by said conducting strip, means for electrically connecting the brushes with the terminals in the applicator cup, and means for regulating the strength of the current supplied to the terminals.

2. In a massage apparatus, the combination of a casing, an applicator cup carried by the easing, electric terminals on said cup, an insulated timing block within the casing, means for rotatcontact engaged with said resistance rod, and

means for supplying current to the terminals on the cup through the brushes and the resistance rod.

RAYMOND E. DE WALT. [L.S.] 

